In earlier speeches Putin has repeatedly talked about the importance of patriotism. In the summer of 2015, he said that patriotism is "the sacred duty of Russians," and in October called it a "moral compass" for teenagers.

However, his own definition of Russia’s “national idea” appears to have changed over time, with statements made in previous years demonstrating a certain inconsistency.

Back in 2004, Putin said at a meeting with his closest confidants that the Russian national idea was competitiveness.

“A person must be competitive, as well as towns, villages, industries and the whole country. That is our fundamental national idea today,” he said.

But in 2011, in an interview with Russian magazine VIP-Premier, Putin said that the Russian national idea was "saving people," quoting dissident author Alexander Solzhenitsyn.